A look at Kate Upton as the new Marilyn

Curvy model Kate Upton walks the runway at the Liverpool Fashion Fest in Mexico City last March.

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Fashion insiders liken Upton’s sexy star wattage to that of Marilyn Monroe. At a February 2012 appearance on David Letterman’s show, Upton (above) channeled Monroe’s iconic pose for “The Seven Year Itch”.

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JULY 2011
Pics of Upton modeling in a Beach Bunny Swimwear show in Miami (left) cause a fat-shaming furor online. Many spring to her defense.

APRIL 2011
Video of Upton doing the “Dougie” dance at an LA Clippers game goes viral — and helps to launch her into stardom.

YouTube

FEBRUARY 2012
When Upton was signed by IMG in 2010, she told her agent her dream was to be the cover model of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Last February, that came true.

Getty Images for Sports Illustrated

SEPT. 6, 2012
The Marilyn Monroe-esque beauty is a boldface name at Michael Kors’ Fashion’s Night Out event.

Getty Images for Michael Kors

MAY 7, 2012
No invite? No problem. A Michael Kors-clad Upton wins the good graces of fashion’s grand dame, Anna Wintour, when she shells out $25,000 of her own dough to attend the Schiaparelli-themed Met Gala.